The Mystery of Salvation, written originally in Hindi in 1932, deals with the toils and dilemmas of upper-middle class characters caught in the transition of traditional and modern values. This play is in three acts and has eight characters. Asha Devi is the only female character with whom both the protagonists, Umashankar and Doctor Tribhuvan Nath, fall in love. This play talks about liberation in many different forms. Asha wants to liberate herself from the repentance of giving poison to Umashankar's wife, which she administers because of her immense love towards Umashankar. Doctor Tribhuvan Nath wants to liberate himself by confessing his sins to Umashankar. And at the end, how Umashankar found his liberation is the turning point of the play. The play has been noted for its literary elocution and admirable portrayal of psychological conflict of the main characters. The present English translation of the work is likely to appeal to a wider audience.
Lakshmi Narayan Misra (1903- 1987) was an epic poet and playwright in Hindi and a freedom fighter. One of the main propounders of the Neo- romanticism, his first collection of lyrical poems, Awarajagat, was published in 1924. His epic work Kaljayee made its impact on the readers and critics alike for its literary greatness, diction and humanism. Most of his plays deal with the social problems of his time, be it Sanyasi (1928), Rakshas ka Mandir (1930-31), Mukti Ka Rahasya (1932). Rajyoga or Sindoor ki Holi (1933). In fact, these plays are considered the precursors of modern Indian dramaturgy in Hindi Literature.
Vishwambhar Nath Misra is a reputed criminal session practitioner, a well known scholar, translator in English, and son of the author. He has grasped thoroughly the inner spirit of the play Mukti Ka Rahasya and makes this social play available to non-Hindi readers for the first time.
'The Mystery of Salvation' is a notable social drama of Pt. Laxmi Narayan Misra. Here too the concern is the man- woman relationship. There is an element of deceit as well in this relationship. The characters of the play belong to the wealthy class of our society. This play starts with the description of the bungalow of Umashankar.
He passed M.A. in 1921 and spent two years of imprisonment for participating in the Non-Cooperation movement. Thus it depicts an element of sacrifice during national movement in the midst of feudal luxury. This actually shows his shrewdness to connect himself with the changing times. He wears khadi clothes and Gandhi cap. Asha Devi has the 'status' of his second wife. His first wife, Manohar's mother, passed away sometime back. Manohar does not regard Asha Devi as his mother. He has some inkling that Asha Devi got his mother killed by poisoning her. In this upper class family, the concept of 'love' acquires dark connotations and takes the form of raw sensuality and lust.
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